Did Yahoo’s new logo after a month long extensive re-design exercise disappoint you? Yes? Then here is something to cheer about, the tech company has published its first global transparency report detailing the number of government requests for user data throughout the first six months of 2013, reports TNW.

Overall, governments from 17 countries listed in the report sent Yahoo 29,470 requests for data related to 62,775 accounts. The U.S. government leads the race, with 12,444 requests impacting 40,322 users. US is followed by countries like Germany (4,295), Italy (2,637), Taiwan (1,942), France (1,855) and the UK (2,832).

For U.S. requests, Yahoo disclosed non-content data such as basic subscriber information which includes alternate e-mail address, name, location, and IP address, etc. for 6,798 requests (55%), content for 4,604 requests (37%) that would mean include words in a communication (e.g., Mail or Messenger), photos on Flickr, files uploaded, etc. and found no data in 801 requests (6%). Besides, Yahoo rejected 241 requests (2%) from the US.

Highlighting the seriousness of Yahoo about user privacy, Ron Bell, General Counsel, Yahoo shared that the total requests covered less than one-hundredth of one percent (<.01%) of its worldwide user base. He also emphasized that at Yahoo data requests are made through lawful means and for lawful purposes. He further added that,

“We regularly push back against improper requests for user data, including fighting requests that are unclear, improper, overbroad or unlawful. In addition, we mounted a two-year legal challenge to the 2008 amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and recently won a motion requiring the U.S. Government to consider further declassifying court documents from that case.”

Indian Government data request

Indian government finds a significant place in the report with more than 1490 data requests in the first half of 2013. According to the report, Yahoo disclosed non-content data for 494 requests (33%), and content disclosed for 341 requests (23%). During the same time the company also rejected 500 requests (34%). Yahoo makes a point to mention that each government data request was processed in a manner consistent with local law, the Yahoo! India Terms of Service, and the Yahoo! Privacy Policy.

For further details of the remaining 15 countries one can individually check here or see the quick facts below.

Going further Yahoo promises to update the transparency report every six months to provide users with further understanding about the government requests it receives.

Yahoo follows suit with social network Facebook which recently revealed its first transparency report though it failed to meet expectations. However, Yahoo made a good first attempt to make us believe that the tech company really cares about user privacy. All thanks to Edward Snowden that has left tech giants with no choice than to come clean as much as possible, at a time when the US Government snooping on user data is no more a hidden secret.